Here are the top talking points from a wet and windy night in Western Australia, starting with the fact that there was even football played at all…
GAME ON!
The weather hasn’t been too kind to us on this pre-season tour and Perth’s climate has been particularly changeable over the last few days. Following overnight downpours and a biblical thunderstorm this morning, there was a real possibility that the game would be cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch – the surface has been heavily used recently, with Crystal Palace and Leeds United playing out a 1-1 draw here on Friday night. Great work by the ground staff, however, cleared much of the surface water and, at 15:00 local time, it was announced that the friendly would proceed as planned.
FIRST START FOR DONNY
Donny van de Beek impressed as a substitute in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday and, with Scott McTominay absent from the squad, the Netherlands international was given the nod from the off by the manager. Our no.34 lined up alongside Fred in midfield. Once again, Ten Hag resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes, with van de Beek one of just two alterations made to the side which beat Palace. Luke Shaw replaced Tyrell Malacia at left-back but otherwise it seems as though Erik ten Hag was reluctant to tweak a winning team.